It sounds too good to be true. A resort with all the
benefits of skiing in Canada – no lift queues, tons of snow
and spectacular scenery – but only a five-hour flight from
the UK.
This isn’t some fantasy scenario, but a relatively
undiscovered gem on the North American ski scene – Humber
Valley in Newfoundland.
This small resort has long been popular with locals and the odd
independent traveller, but now a new direct charter from Barwell
Leisure brings it within reach of UK skiers.
While winter holidays to Canada have been steadily increasing in
popularity over the past few years, one of the major stumbling
blocks for Brits is the requisite long-haul flight. And this is
where Humber Valley is making new friends.
For a fraction of the time it takes to get to the big, famous
resorts in the Rockies and on the west coast, you can find yourself
in the stunning countryside of Newfoundland.
Make no mistake, though, this is no Whistler or Banff. The
amount of skiable terrain is tiny in comparison and the nightlife
more genuinely ‘Canadian’ – think 1990s cheese on
the hi-fi and non-ironic mullets – but what you do get here
is an incredible choice of activities and above all, privacy,
making it an ideal place to bring friends and family.
This was the thought crossing my mind as I pulled up outside my
luxurious chalet. Three huge double bedrooms, a massive lounge
area, a dining room and a kitchen that was begging to be cooked, in
had me feeling at home within minutes. Even better than this,
though, was the hot tub steaming away on the sun deck.
There are other properties in the vicinity, but you’d
never know it; the only neighbour you’re likely to encounter
is the odd moose wandering past your front door.
While the ski hill at Marble Mountain is a 15-minute drive away,
there’s a free transfer service to and from the resort. Once
there, you’ll find 34 trails to choose from (including the
terrain park and halfpipe), most of which are blues.
Although there are only four lifts to choose from (one drag and
three quad chairs), the likelihood of having to queue is rare. This
is a good place for intermediates and beginners – experts
might find themselves running out of terrain after a few days. For
those who do fancy a bigger challenge, there’s great Cat
skiing available in the nearby Blomidon Mountains, which can be
arranged through the resort.
After a morning exploring the slopes, I headed back to the
resort for some snowmobiling.
This is a fantastic way to see the beautiful Humber Valley
backcountry, and there are separate outings available for novices
and more experienced snowmobilers.
Having managed to put mine on its side after getting carried
away in the fluffy stuff, I wondered whether I’d been a bit
ambitious, but it kept everybody behind me amused.
Of course, all this frenetic action tends to leave the stomach
rumbling. I managed to tear myself away from the cosiness of the
chalet a few times to eat at the in-resort restaurant at the Beach
House.
The food and service was top notch, all delivered with the
friendliness that ‘Newfies’ are famous for.
Locally caught seafood and fish are the speciality here, and I
can heartily recommend the baked Atlantic salmon. Those visiting
with families will find that youngsters are well catered for, with
activities such as snowshoeing and sledging available to keep
little ones occupied while mum and dad head for the hills.
While Humber Valley has several selling points that appeal to
the UK market – namely its relatively close proximity to the
UK and 16ft of annual snowfall – the local infrastructure
needs developing to meet the predicted increase in visitors.
Top of the list is a £3.5 million expansion of the local
airport, including a runway extension and new terminal building, as
well as a long-term plan to increase the amount of skiable terrain
at Marble Mountain.
As it is, though, Humber Valley forms another valuable asset in
the North American quest to win over the UK market.
Barwell Leisure managing director Paul Andrews said: “The beauty
of Humber Valley is that you can choose exactly what kind of
holiday you want. Whether you want to hide in your luxury chalet
for a week or get a dose of adrenaline in the great outdoors,
it’s close enough to be a viable alternative to Europe.”
Sounds too good to be true? Only time will tell.
